Reply #22: It's a matter [View All]

of perception of character. Edwards, unlike Obama, positions himself as Mr. Working-class-anti-corporatist. However, Edwards is, by any measure, no different from any other wealthy person. He drives an SUV, he has an enormous house, he holds $20 million in hedge funds, he pays exhorbitant prices for cosmetics, etc. Edwards rails against the disparity between rich and poor, but is a walking example of why such railing will not change anything--he may think it's awful that businesses only work for money instead of social justice, but he chose a career that made him millions of dollars instead of a career (like Obama's) working for the disenfranchised with little recompensation. He may think it's bad that a limited few hold all the wealth, but when it comes down to it, he'd rather keep his own money in his own pockets. And he might think centrism and corparatism are malign influences in politics, but he was unabashedly and proudly DLC every day he was in elected office.

Edwards, in every facet of his life, does not back up his rhetoric. And that is an insight into his character. He talks a great game, but didn't walk it in the Senate, and doesn't walk it in his personal life.

Obama, on the other hand, does not position himself in the same way. Therefore, nobody really minds that he wrote best-sellers and bought a house.